Tuesday, December 31, 2013

PUT A FORK IN IT -2013-

Not to put too fine a point on it...


2013 was one for the books.  BUT I had many high points that shall NOT be overlooked - & as time softens the edges of things & erodes the memories it shall be the strengthened / renewed / & new relationships that were bonded over this year that shall endure as the true legacy of 2013. 

Happy New Year !!!

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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

December

Already December, sliding a little on the updates - but actually not much happening of any real consequence.  Work has finally settled down to me and an occasional book-keeper and Mr. Plow (Jake) when it snows.  Plugging away at plans and website stuff and such and blast whatever music I want. 

House is stable.  Basement shall remain empty for now as we are still waiting on our DRP (Disaster Recovery Program) assessment.  They have some 'funny' ideas about how to do the rebuild, as does our insurance provider, and there is really no point in doing things more than once.  Plus there is an outside chance of another major flood before the proper measures have been taken such as the diversion - which could take years I suppose, so whatever.  Have to bide our time for a bit anyway and see what happens with the real estate market.  Maybe an empty basement will be a plus??  

Liking the new furnace, uses a fraction of the fuel the old boat anchor did.  Pushes out a lot more air too so even my den is warm which wasn't the case before.  

There are still many projects but more picky things like cleaning and sorting my trashed tools (the ones that were saved from the flood) sorting paperwork and other bits and pieces and figuring out how to store things for the interim.  Not the most fun projects but it keeps us busy.  No cable TV at the moment and not missing it much.  Every once in a while I would like to watch hockey but I've got books on the go.  I also have a pair of skis that are mocking me... perhaps give them a go as soon as this cold snap breaks. 

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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Main back up!

Short tick list and the main is back up.  Hook up washer & dryer is a leftover from the weekend.  My office/den is still pretty much still a layer of dust and debris over the pile that was made in June when we opened the walls to deal with moisture.  That will take a little time to sift thru and clean - books / mail / clothing / gear / with some recently used items laying on top of the forgotten.  Anyway - I can pick at that - at least we'll be doing laundry again without having to mooch or laundromat.

Yard isn't quite right yet and sheds still have muddy items (plus the muddy sheds themselves) but winter is coming so some of that might be spring country.  Cleaned my truck cab though!  That should improve my mileage. 

Still no word from DRP (Disaster Recovery Program aka the government assistance) but after almost a month since being passed to a new insurance rep I was able to make contact today and get the glacier moving again.  Even promises of cutting me a partial cheque!  Will wonders never cease!

Work still busy with lots of surveying while the good weather holds.  All designs now are for Spring construction.  Wrapping up the construction will be nice - not having to come in early and deal with crabby people is what I'm most looking forward to.  

Anyway, there's your update - and the sun just poked thru the clouds that have predominated today's weather.  I'll take that as a sign.

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Wednesday, October 2, 2013

October. Fekk!

It will come as no surprise to people who know me when I say I dislike winter.  I like to ski / snowshoe, and the downtime is nice to a point, but it is too long, too brown and gross, and i often struggle with "sluggishness" (that's being kind I guess) but I'm seriously looking forward to putting a fork in 2013. -4 this morning, bring it on.

But in the meantime we have progress on the main floor.  Real and his son are true artisans and the hardwood, tile, and drywall repair are coming along great.  He has forgiven me for un-boxing and racking the hardwood (I guess, he stopped mentioning it anyway). So this weekend I'll restore some of the trim once I find all the scattered pieces.  Hope it's ready at any rate.  Snuck a hike in last weekend in knee deep snow on a larch hunt and came out of it restored if a little banged up from a couple falls.  Anyhow - looking forward to having my mainfloor back online.  Two kitchen chairs and a corner of the dining room table perched on the edge of carnage is getting old. 

Other list items (and it's a long one) gardening, shed, truck, basement, - oh, and my 'office / den' might be fixed soon and I can sort / clean it.  Piles / dust / bits and pieces long lost since June.

Work very close to wrapping designs for 2013 builds!  Otherwise still long days and trying not to agitate those who are (in my opinion) gripping the stick a little too hard.  Fun stuff.  Starting to scheme on some winter projects - notepad/sketchbook at the elbow.  Anybody interested in a calendar?

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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Where was I?

Stand there with something in my hand, halfway to somewhere else.... now, where was I going exactly??  Blank on peoples names, was that two weeks ago?  The check engine light is on again.

BUT the show must go on!  This week is work, a few meetings, a dinner or two, and poof its almost the weekend.  If nice weather I have some weeds to slay, things to wash, or work on the garage, cars, ... yes still a list!!

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Friday, September 6, 2013

Drywall, First Cut

Drywall happening on the main floor, plans for the weekend to run a mower over the new verge.  A big tick list of items that grows slightly faster than I can tick - so normal stuff.  Progress though, and time to help some friends and do some Scouting / Silverland stuff.  Mountains will have to wait but they are on the radar for next weekend.  

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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Home again

Sort of ad-hock but ended up moving home on the weekend.  Built Tessa a temporary pen so she'll give the new lawn a chance to knit before adding her special touches. Gradually (mostly Shannon's doing) stuff from our other home finding its way back.  She is also busy cleaning her way out of that place leaving it better than we found it - least we can do since they wouldn't accept any rent.  Amazing how where your 'stuff' is roots you to a place, and it was a nice place, a refuge from the mess that "105" had become and truly a home for the three of us plus our 'adopted son' Brandon and all the drop in riff-raff that helped to take our minds off things in the evenings.  There is still a pile of stuff to do to make "105" home again but each day we make a little progress.  Spent the weekend working on the garage which won't become a workshop again right way - going to get it in shape for storage of things that would otherwise be in the basement etc so it is out of the way for construction. Fix the electrical, insulation, vapour barrier, sheathing with OSB.  Single handedly did the vapour barrier and acoustical sealant without becoming the tar-baby:  I'll call that a win. 

Took Tessa for a walk thru George Lane Park the other night and back thru the downtown core.  The park is closed for safety reasons - pathways missing, fences and trees down, and most of it still covered in debris and silt.  Pretty sobering.  Downtown has some life but the majority of businesses still either boarded up during repairs or surrounded by construction fences.  Handmade signs augment store signage stressing "We're OPEN, come on in!"  but really, most of it looks like a construction site.

Work plows on, the time of year I can usually take a breath - but not this year.  On top of everything else its busy and the crews are nipping at my heels wanting projects to run to.  Yes, yes, coming right up!  A list at my elbow grows of things deferred ... no shortage of winter projects this year either.

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Friday, August 23, 2013

I'm having a "Holy Shit it's Friday" moment

Sod's getting watered, cat and a bunch of our crap from Olds is home, got some tools and supplies for the weekend.  Shannon has been cleaning endlessly. Hacked and slashed my way thru the week and somehow arrived at Friday.

Weekend plans, get the garage back together (insulation, OSB on the walls, etc) along with attending a 25th anniversary party. Eric's last day of work today... where did the summer go?  Coming up on my favorite season though - gotta get to the mountains soon.  But still need to move some mulch, dig a sump hole, build a wall for the vac, - where is my list?

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Friday, August 16, 2013

Free Sodding Lessons

Always been intrigued by the fine art of laying sod but were too intimidated to give it a try?  Saturday is your chance to give it a go!  Professional instructors on site to teach you how to:

Drive a wheelbarrow!
Shovel loam!
Pull a grade!
Handle actual live sod!
Get sent for coffee!
Run the roller!
Step on a rake!
Drag hoses & watch it come to life before your very eyes!

All for FREE!  That's right, FREE!!!  Freedom Fescue blend & Premium Dream Kentucky Bluegrass blend will both be in use - decide which is your favorite in a no-risk environment!  One day only!  Hurry down, limited supply - once it's down it's down.

No lookie-lous - If you're late just bring beer. Or come along to Silverland for the rest of the day where you will get truly down & dirty!  There will something for everyone out there.

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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Chilkoot / Kluane / Sod

Had last week off work (company-wide holiday) and as per plans made last winter Eric and I headed north to backpack the Chilkoot Trail and then spent some time in Kluane NP in the Yukon.  It was a great trip, especially because I got to spend the time with Eric and sort of forget about work/flood concerns for a bit.  I'll have photos up eventually.  About a thousand frames to sort thru.

Upcoming: hope to sod this weekend, that will be the last major hurdle with the landscaping (lots of fiddling to do after that as time permits) and hopefully go help out a bit with Silverland workbee.  Now that people are mostly sorted at their homes we can start in earnest at the camp.  Thankfully others who were less affected on the home front have stepped up to organize that.  

Work is still busy, just mostly taking things day-to-day now covering off what I can where I can.  It will be September soon and the larches will be calling! And the contractors will hopefully be able to start on the house interior.  Dusty business.

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Monday, July 29, 2013

Still flat out

Internet is down where we are living and maybe I'll take a crack at troubleshooting that tonight when I get home.  Can't complain - do what we can to help out.  Anyway, a little lax with the updates.

Working full days and then trying to squeeze in some things after like collecting/replacing/repairing gear for upcoming backpacking trip or working on things at the house.

Saturday had my mini-crew (Jake with a truck and bobcat, Doods, Eric, and I) and we moved out the rest of the silt, cored for a turf grade, and moved back in approx 45-50 yards of mulch to cleanup the beds, sideyards, veggie paths etc.  That was a very productive day capped off by another five hours of removing the tile and plywood underlay from the main floor laundry/bathroom/entrance.  This was at the advice of our contractor who wants to be sure we are mould free when all is said and done.  Good call - but what a nasty job.  Plywood was screwed down 6" O/C so it was prybars, and hammer time (even got my big digging bar in there for a while)  Got back to the acreage where we are living after midnight and almost couldn't lift my arm enough to throw the truck in park.  Job done though, did not want to do that Sunday.  Sunday was for prepping for backpacking - parceling out food and getting the gear going.  Christmas on the tailgate of my truck with new purchases replacing some lost or damaged items. "Like kind and quality" - but you can't buy new gear with duct tape already attached!

This week, more of the same.  Surveying around the rain and getting as much done as possible in the office.

Around High River???  Hard to say, mostly still focused on my own thing.  Incredible how quiet my area is at night though, no dogs barking or anything.  Most homes dark with nobody living there yet.  Traffic is quiet, shops that are open don't seem too busy.  Except Tim Hortons (free coffee on Saturday thanks to a generous donor - $2700 total donation).  The High River that emerges from this will be different than it was - I expect there will be some positives from some of this.  Various levels of government still jockeying for position.  Unlike 2005 though I think there is the appetite for some substantial changes and some real flood mitigation measures... just gotta get some of those asshats off their podiums and onto a dozer. 

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Onwards and upwards

Shifting away from daily reports - busy and things don't seem as urgent.

Friday after work went to Olds to round up some of my backpacking stuff that inlaws were working on.  They did an amazing job on the packs and sleeping bags, they are washing and fixing golf clubs and even washing Legos.  And my dog has trashed their flower bed - owe them big time.

Saturday, around the yard.  Furnace gone finally, got the lane cleared out and washed and tidied up so I can bring a machine in again to grade.  Was washing the canoe on the driveway and one of my older neighbors stops his car "Too late.  Water's gone."  totally deadpan.  Funny guy, lives just a half a block away and we'd never spoken before the flood.  Still driving around dragging his air dam under the car.  Refused my offer to fix it for him.  Dropped a patio block on my toe late in the day and turned it a deep shade of purple.  Some choice words were spoken.

Sunday, went hiking with Eric and some of his Edmonton room-mates to Cirque peak off the Icefields parkway.   Beautiful scenery and good to get chance to hike again - push some clean air thru my lungs.  Foot hurt but was easy enough to ignore once I got going.  Long day what with the drive, but was totally worth it. 

Monday - work'n.  Surveying around the rain, in the rain etc.  Highlite of the day was some little girls with an ice-tea stand near one of the sites.  Happy to make some money 50cents at a time off the tradesmen.  High River to move furniture for the carpet cleaning and check on some things.  Another long day and try and sleep thru thunderstorms.

Tuesday.  Office (still here) and hope to sift thru some gear tonight and maybe setup the tent and see how it turned out.  Looks and smells good, want to make sure it's still watertight before taking it out in the field. Started a list of gear I need to replace for the trip also.  Still not sure where everything is but some things I know are history.  Not enough hours in a day.

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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Branching out

Glad to have the opportunity to do something to help out Rob & Bernie last night, also glad their house doesn't appear to be as hard hit as first suspected.  Back in the rubber boots & mask in the bowels of the earth... hopefully for the last time.

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Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Remediation mode

Kinda shifting from rehab to remediation mode.

Had a wash on the basement finally yesterday!  Those boys look a little tired (understandably).  Insurance guy to measure and estimate the rebuild in the basement.  Mechanicals discussion and quote.  Had a good visit with my folks who came down to bring us some food and offer more support.   Gradual progression.

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Monday, July 15, 2013

Day 13 - Flood Rehab

Thirteen hour shift - no site visit. Meeting regarding mechanicals (hopefully) tomorrow and maybe by some miracle, get the remediation company in to do a wash.  It's like dealing with landscapers there - no schedule, nobody knows what's going on ... It'll get done eventually when the real workers actually show up.  I'm better at waiting when I at least have a bit of a timeline.

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Sunday, July 14, 2013

Day 12 - flood rehab

Rolled up this morning and the big old dirty fridges were gone!!! And there was much rejoicing!!!  That was after visiting the Scout Hall and Silverland where there is still much to do.

Spent the day alone digging out corners and edging so I'm ready for the hoe.  It'll look a lot better once I have all the silt gone.   Every day, hour by hour, things become a little more 'normal'.  Also got the phone working again thanks to the boys from Shaw.  Both of them out from Vancouver Island and they've worked seven days a week since June 26, part of it helping people clear out basements and such starting in Calgary, then High River.  Obviously doing what they are trained to do as well.  No charge for new equipment and required service.  I guess all that money I've been spending on a cable bill all these years finally went towards something worthwhile.  

Back to work tomorrow.  Heal up my hands and rest my back - get back in the groove.  For now, a cool drink and soft chair. 

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Saturday, July 13, 2013

Day 11 - Flood Rehab

Slept hard, right thru a thunderstorm and two carloads of kids coming home from Stampede partying. Hit the office for a bit to print off damage photos and clear my inbox which was right out of control.  Scavenged some assorted tools and lumber and went to the house and built a new back gate.  Good project to buoy me up amide all the ongoing remediation and vac truck noise.  Couldn't quite stomach any digging today.  Tomorrow country.

Had a bbq and visit at a friends house at the end of the day.  Good visit with Eric and his buddies mostly, who are turning into a really great group of young men.  For some this whole experience has been a chance to step up - Eric would definitely fit that category.  He has been a huge help.

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Friday, July 12, 2013

Day 10 - Flood Rehab

Bone-tired.  Full office day and phone tag with trades and rehab people.  Eat and crash is the plan... no site visit today, more digging and stuff tomorrow - tick list is on the dash.

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Thursday, July 11, 2013

Day 9 - flood rehab

Spent the day 'landscaping' with Eric, cleaning the silt out of the corners where the hoe won't be able to reach.  Hopefully Shawn will be back with his hoe on Saturday, but as he said "No promises" and he has his place to do too.  Had four lovely ladies cleaning the house today plus they fed us and kept us going.  The dust today was horrendous, there is still shit everywhere and street sweepers dodge thru the obstacles (dumpsters, fridges, cars, equipment, piles of dirt) like bumper cars stirring up a cloud of dust but putting down no water.  Morons.  Ad to that wind and gravel trucks  - it was like standing on a gravel road at harvest time.  I'm not going to do any outdoor washing until they get the streets sorted out.  Judging by the state of the park across the street, the dust will be around for quite a while. 

But progress was made and I owe Eric even more than I already did.  Garage door repaired, plumber over to sort of begin a quote on new mechanicals, slimey trades soliciting for work followed by some government dude warning of how to make sure trades are legit.  Interesting day.  Full office day tomorrow and then use the weekend to hopefully get all the major stuff ticked off.  

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Day 8 - flood rehab

Worked until five so not as productive as some days.  Eric joined me and he dug out the heaved deck piles and the deck settled sort of to where it should be but the planter attached is holding up one end.  Might get Shawn with his hoe to push down on it when he's there next.  Ghetto landscaping.  Spent the balance of the evening mucking silt out of beds and washing down the completed section.  Heavy and tedious work at the same time.  Taking tomorrow to hopefully complete mucking the corners with Eric and then the hoe can make another pass.  After that, fixing / washing /  reassembly but mostly get back to work at least until Rob and Bernie get to go in and I can go help them.  

Crews are making the rounds trying to clean up the messes we've left on the streets.  Dusty noisy work but it was actually quite pleasant once they cleared off.  Bats are enjoying the plethora of mosquitoes. 

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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Day 7 flood rehab

First day back to work then back to 105 to tick off a few items including getting Rob to help me wash out a bit more mud and guck exposed when I skidded the stair carpet and drywall yesterday.  Now things can dry out more and hopefully our remediation company can come and do the biowash soon.  Still trying to connect with some trades and line up the next steps.  Next major step is to work on the silt removal.  It dried nicely today so hopefully by tomorrow afternoon we can get back at a bit of that and pull some grade on the backyard so maybe some grass can grow back (its trying in places).  Hopefully in there somewhere I can get over to my neighbor Jim's place where his back garden is only accessible by wheelbarrow and get his silt out.  He has no business being on a wheelbarrow.  Many of the volunteers seem to decline the silt job - I guess it isn't viewed as important as other jobs. Plus it's hard work. 

Leaving at 11:30pm or so my neighborhood was very quiet.  Very little activity and hardly any lights.  It will be nice when they remove the piles of trash so the place doesn't look quite so much like a war zone and the tourists get lost. 

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Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Day six - flood rehab


Different day today from the flurry of activity on Sunday. The looki-lous and endless volunteers had subsided.  Two neighbors with vac trucks to have their places sucked out made a lot of noise but it was eerie quiet when I first arrived.  Got power restored, fridge working.  Dropped the Jetta off for an assessment (Eric drove it thru a couple feet of water... bits of flotsam still stuck in the front trim/grill/lights ) It ran ok but I still think it should be checked out.  Went to Okotoks for groceries and parts and lined up at the Okotoks post office for my mail.  Free wifi!! (stay positive).  Plumber capped my water and gas lines to the mechanicals so they are clear but my 1974 furnace remains.  At 400 odd pounds I might just leave that for the restoration company for when they come to do the biowash.  Got the last of the drywall out from the stairwell and tore out the carpet on the steps.  Wasn't quite cleaned up from that and Phil came and helped me sort out some minimal lights and plugs in the basement so I can stop tripping over extension cords in the dark.  Dehumidifiers now humming along and able to lock up everything which makes me feel a bit better.  Yard is still a mess and morning rain didn't help much with that. 

Tomorrow hit the office for a bit and finish the day back at 105.  (its confusing when we say "home" now.) The list is still long but gradually less urgent.  

Driving out Tongue Creek road tonite I passed an old gravel pit site that is being turned into temporary housing for displaced High Riverites.  A mass of portable trailers, like a big work site. Reminded of how lucky I am in the grand scheme of things.  

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Sunday, July 7, 2013

Day five - flood rehab

Another hell-uv-a-day.  Shannon was hopping inside the house with helpers (including a design client and her friend) washing and cleansing things. Countless very helpful Mormons - holy crap - Sometimes I was turning down help for lack of a suitable job.  Mike yarded out some hardwood and we opened up some more walls on the lower main floor chasing wet drywall.  I promised Mark I wouldn't call on him today but I had too and he came.  I should be up to a case of scotch for that man but I know he won't take it.  I think we got that sorted as mitigating mould issues is job one.  Myron and Janet returned to lend a hand after their morning shift - your humour under the circumstances always welcome.  Once again my first helper of the day was yet another hiking partner, Wietse, to lend a very welcome hand.  This whole thing is a lot like landscaping, sometimes you have too much manpower and sometimes you have too much work but a core of people I know and love sure makes things happen - extra help plus water and sandwiches at every turn a bonus!

Later in the day I opened a section of fence and my neighbor, also a landscaper/excavator, swung in with his mini-hoe and scraped out the turf area plus the silt all the help was yarding out of the beds by hand.  Seems trivial, with all that has been going on, to care about my garden but it is great to get that sorted.  Of course it made a major mess and I might need to resod.  We'll see how it turns out.  Getting rid of the silt was a big deal, I don't even care at the moment that my deck still has a pitch to it thanks to the heaved piles, just pretend you're on a ship.  So many projects.

Doing better mentally though.  Got my electrical signed off on by an electrician so Fortis can 'energize' me tomorrow.  No more generator!   So I'll be hanging out waiting for them to arrive and running down the more important items on the todo list.  Shoring up a header in the basement (because the framing was removed), pulling some grade outside, tidying up....  fun times.  

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Saturday, July 6, 2013

Day four - flood rehab

Turned a corner today.  After two nights of little or no sleep I was flagging a little today.  Darren was my first helper to arrive and he buoyed me up.  Then four random helpers from Calgary, plus Myron, Janet and crew from Glen Eagles, Renaud and his wife, plus my boys - but without a dumpster to move the garbage mountain I was getting tense so we hit some of the silt build up in the garden.  Finally we got a dumpster going with even more help and during a lull when the trucks were gone to the dump it bucketed rain.  At first I was pissed but then took advantage of the flow to move the sludge pond from the base of the driveway.  Mike kept telling me I would plug the drain but I've worked with this crap for days now - you just need to add water!!! 

At the end of the day all the garbage dumpstered and my head straight again plotting moving forward and actually able to laugh again and give a little support to my frazzled neighbor.  Starting a tick list for the long road ahead.

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Friday, July 5, 2013

Day 3 flood rehab

Today started early as by 4am my brain was spinning on how to proceed and make the best use of the volunteer help I am so blessed to have.  The early start meant I could mourn my toasted tools in private - excavating them one by one from the foot of mud / ooze mud that filled my garage.  By the time help arrived I had separated most of the salvageable stuff that my Dad was kind enough to haul home and attempt rehab.  Electrical stuff mostly just went to the trash pile (trash mountain).  By days end the garage had been freed from mud, washed down, and the interior OSB wall board removed along with half the insulation.  Mold was already forming.  Got a bunch of tools pressure washed and Mark and Rob got some more work done on the main floor opening up the walls that got wet.  Phil sorted most of the electrics but a meeting with our rehab company (thru the insurance company) will now take that on.  Its going to be a slow process.  Ended the day with Eric and Bart helping me fill a big 25 yard roll off bin.  Hardly seemed to put a dent in the pile. 

Tomorrow we hopefully can throw some energy behind removing the silt that is built up all over the whole yard.  In places the grass is trying to go thru... it is going to be a rough job.  At some point in the future I'll probably have to resod and replace a bunch of plants.  There is also lots of 'tidying up' to do and filling more dumpsters. 

During the flood the garage door was pushed in and then raised about 18".  The mud would have got in anyway but an unfortunate side effect was the snow tires that were stacked just inside the door each lost one tire (Jetta and Envoy).  Gone.   What a piss off.  

Running off adrenaline still.  Hopefully I can pull off a couple more days at this pace.  Second day that I just wore my glasses into the shower (that filthy).  Again, can't say thank you enough to all the helpers who have given up vacation time and work to pitch in. 

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Thursday, July 4, 2013

Day two rehab - mud, muck & dust.

Mud, muck, dust.  Long day but the basement is almost all skidded. A few studs and panels remain for tomorrow plus a bit more mucking and we can start to dry it out.   Hopefully get power restored. Next the garage and after that all the silt - meanwhile cleaning and drying inside to keep on top of the mold.  


Can't say enough about the help we've received.  Truly blessed.  But not looking forward to garage triage - so many tools and supplies destroyed.  And I still need to decide about a pile of gear on the maybe list.  Not out of the woods yet! 

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Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Day one rehab

Big day. Did the re-entry circus, took photos and met with our insurance adjuster, had to get the power shut off, then got busy in the basement mostly removing items. Sorting, recording what we were discarding, triaging what we were to keep. Had some solid help and got a lot accomplished. 


Tomorrow we muck out, remove some heavy items that are toast (freezer, pool table, treadmill) and once that is in hand, strip out the flooring, walls, fixtures.  Bogging to be a big day!  Appreciate any help we can get. Come prepared for hell-mud. 

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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

One day to re-entry

Downloaded the photos and video off my phone to establish timeline so figured I'd throw some of them on Zenfolio.  Eric and I left the house by boat 3:01pm, the river supposedly crested at around 7pm.  Did the basement hold out?  It was leaking in the windows, around the patio door on the lower main and in thru a heat register to the basement.  Remains to be seen as well as did the main floor survive (kitchen level)?   Hopefully by this time tomorrow I'll have the answer to those questions and more.

photos/video

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Monday, July 1, 2013

CA - NA - DA

Looking like Wednesday for re-entry which will be a day of paperwork and triage.  Following that I'll have a better idea of our status and will form a battle plan for 105 Hell River. 

Meanwhile, its Canada Day.  Spending the next two days in the office to cover off this week at minimum.  Fridge full of food and the radio - its all good.

More or less unplugged yesterday and spent most of it with Shannon (and Eric for a bit) as we got our handout in Nanton and arranged for a place to live for the foreseeable future.  Some people are just way too generous, but there are some chores there we can do to earn our keep.  Moving down there Tuesday after work. Country life for a bit.

The waiting is almost over.  I wish I could say the same for all Highriverites.  Enjoy the national holiday - its going to be a beaut!

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Friday, June 28, 2013

Re-entry plan rolled out

Early days but the re-entry plan has been rolled out ( the press conference was full of posturing and political rhetoric) and at the moment we are phase 3 of 9.  No specific timeline but I'm hopeful I'll be mucking in less than a week.  Finally some *&#)*(#ing news!

Current re-entry plan

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Thursday

Aside from losing my temper with a few people (The usual stuff that pushes my buttons, I was just not very diplomatic is all), just another day.

Supposed to be an update on re-entry plan tomorrow at around 12:30pm.   Hopefully good news.  Or any solid news would be better than the current situation. 

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

What is a cubit anyway?

Insert your own ark joke here.

Another day of work and waiting. Picked up some groceries on a break so Eric can join me for dinner. Sobey's chickens - what would I do without them!

addendum:
Blokland's (mayor) address indicating days, not weeks, with least affected in first.  Don't think that will be me but you never know.   I like timelines better than 'sit tight'. 

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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

2013-06-25 update

Just working and listening to updates on the radio. What little I have learned from a fellow working at the hospital is quite grim. I continue to count my blessings, I have an amazing support group & getting back into the routine at work has helped a bit to keep me occupied. Not much else to say. The wait continues.

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Monday, June 24, 2013

Floodmagedon 2013

While I'm waiting for High River to be clear for re-entry I'm communicating with people over a variety of channels from FB and Linkedin to email and phones to even a hiking forum I frequent. To that end, once I hit the ground in HR it will be more difficult to keep everyone in the loop. So Gone Shoot'n gets resurrected as I can update from my phone to one place.

Specific replies might be best directed to my phone either as text messages or phone but email will also go there. Email me if you don't have that number. Once things cut loose replies and updates might be delayed.

I don't know what to expect once we can go. It will be slow and stressful at times no doubt and we must be patient and follow protocol. No point in getting electrocuted or something stupid. My neighbors might also need help even if I have enough so I'll do my best to be specific about help that is needed.

So at present I am at work staying at my bosses house. Eric is working until we can hit this and is staying with friends. Shannon is in Olds or Cochrane or at some point with me depending on what she decides. Tessa and Tazz are hanging out with inlaws in Olds. And lastly Mike will come help us when its go time.

Phone updates to Gone Shoot'n will likely be short but hope they help keep people in the loop.

Lastly, this might surprise some people, but I'm not taking a lot of photos during this. Of damage etc obviously, but I refuse to become a lookylou holding up efforts by taking photos. There's lots of that elsewhere if you want anyway.

see you in the trenches 
>clayton.

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Mobile blog test.

For updating from phone?? Test for echo. Type rest of the post here

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